Friday, December 31, 2021

Happy New Year!


2021 was not the year that any of us wanted or expected. I am not sure how I feel with the start of 2022 upon us, but I am wishing and hoping for a better year compared to the last two.

Be kind to yourselves. Don't make any resolutions if you don't want to. Celebrate the little moments when you can.

One of my biggest goals for myself next year is to be more present in my real life. The pandemic has taught me how precious those moments are and I don't want to live them through an online lens. I also want to get back my reading mojo. It's been severely lacking thanks to  *gestures wildly* everything going on. I am going to hopefully focus more on what makes me happy and doom scroll way less.

Here is to endings and beginnings ....


I hope your year starts off however you hope it would. Happy New Year!

 

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier



Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier
Release Date - September 18, 2018 (first published in 1991)
Publisher Website - Kensington Books
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 236 pages
My Rating - 2.5/5
**borrowed from library**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
As if baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater for her husband's gift, and making her daughter's angel costume for the church pageant weren't enough things for Lucy Stone's busy Christmas schedule, she's also working nights at the famous mail-order company Country Cousins. But when she discovers Sam Miller, its very wealthy founder, dead in his car from an apparent suicide, the sleuth in her knows something just doesn't smell right.

Taking time out from her hectic holiday life to find out what really happened, her investigation leads to a backlog of secrets as long as Santa's Christmas Eve route. Lucy is convinced that someone murdered Sam Miller. But who and why? With each harrowing twist she uncovers in this bizarre case, another shocking revelation is exposed. Now, as Christmas draws near and Lucy gets dangerously closer to the truth, she's about to receive a present from Santa she didn't ask for--a killer who won't be satisfied until everyone on his shopping list is dead, including Lucy herself...

The last book for this years #PopCultureResolution ended the event on a bit of a down note. I wanted a cozy mystery that was Christmas or winter themed. I selected this one because it was the first in a series and seems like it fit the vibe I was wanting. This book, however, turned out to not be for me even if some parts were engaging.

The biggest issue I had was the writing style. I did not mesh with the way this book was written and that made it even harder for me to become engaged in the story. It felt like a lot of the writing was telling me the story instead of showing me the story or the characters. It's a simple, straightforward writing style that can work if your plot is tight, but in this case it didn't come together the way it should have.

The second aspect that didn't work for me was the mystery itself. It certainly has a good set up and could have been a decent premise for a mystery to revolve around. It ultimately results in an unsatisfying ending that almost makes the mystery secondary to other elements of the plot. It also felt like the ending was rushed so that that storyline could be resolved quickly at the end. There, for me, didn't seem to be anything you could sleuth or discover as the storyline went along. It didn't make for mystery that would keep the reader invested.

Some positives were the original setup. The very beginning of the novel starts out on a promising note and offers a believable premise for our heroine to get involved with the mystery. That potential, sadly, didn't last long for me. The other element. I also enjoyed some of the office interactions that Lucy has with her coworkers. It felt fun, gossipy, and one of the more natural elements of the story.

This book is nice and short. It does have a breezy pace due to both it's writing style and length. It's not much a time commitment but even that didn't make up for the unsatisfying reading experience I ultimately got in the end.

There is a death of an animal in this novel (the main character's cat) and I was pretty shocked at the dismissive attitude the main character had to this event. It felt a little jarring and brushed aside far too quickly. It you have issues with animals being harmed in novels this one might be especially upsetting due to the way it is handled.

This book was not my personal favourite, but this author has plenty of other novels both in this series and in general, that seem to be popular. I don't think I would read another one, but there are obviously people with a different opinion than mine. I think there are more compelling and worthy mystery reads out that to spend your time on.

Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Waiting on Wednesday ... Love in the Time of Serial Killers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson


Here is the Goodreads synopsis 
Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.

PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.
 
It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). But it’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce through her armor to her vulnerable heart underneath.

This book mixes a romance with true crime and I am extremely here for it. It sounds like a lot of fun and definitely like a book that was written specifically for me. 

Based on this synopsis I am going to love how the elements of this story are blended together and I cannot wait to read this in the summer. 

Expected release date - August 16, 2022

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Merry Christmas!


It is Christmas Eve! Happy Holidays, everyone! I hope that no matter how you are celebrating this year that you have a wonderful holiday and you get to enjoy some reading time. Hopefully you found some books underneath the tree this year as well.

I wish you all a safe holiday season. I'll be back next week with regular posts.

Books I Hope To Find Under The Tree

 

Christmas Eve is right around the corner so I thought it might be fun to share what books I hope find their way under the tree this year.

I am including both old and new releases for this list (as there are always backlist books I am eager to get to). These are just books I don't currently own and am excited about. I would love to unwrap any of these on Christmas morning.

My Top Five Choices:

1.The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (goodreads)

I love a book that has a good mystery. This revolves around a teacher of an MFA program, a story idea good enough to steal, and some mysterious messages. It's gotten a lot of praise so it is one I am definitely curious about.

2. Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe (goodreads)

This is a graphic novel that is a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth. It was a very popular webtoon that has now been made available in this format.

3. Verity by Colleen Hoover (goodreads)

This book has intrigued me since I first heard about it. Colleen Hoover is known for writing romance but has ventured into general fiction as well. This one is different from her other books in that I have heard it is more of a psychological thriller. 

4. If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (goodreads)

Two boy band members falling for each other? Yes, please. I have been wanting this one since I first heard about it and would love to find a copy under the tree.

5. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (goodreads)

I have wanted to read this thanks to the amazing podcast Once Upon A Time At Bennington College. It has made me intrigued enough to finally want to pick up a copy and the book sounds absolutely fascinating. 

What books are you hoping to open on Christmas morning? Let me know in the comments!

Waiting On Wednesday ... By The Book

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is By The Book by Jasmine Guillory


Here is the Goodreads synopsis 
A tale as old as time—for a new generation…

Isabelle is completely lost. When she first began her career in publishing right out of college, she did not expect to be twenty-five, living at home, still an editorial assistant, and the only Black employee at her publishing house. Overworked and underpaid, constantly torn between speaking up or stifling herself, Izzy thinks there must be more to this publishing life. So when she overhears her boss complaining about a beastly high-profile author who has failed to deliver his long-awaited manuscript, Isabelle sees an opportunity to finally get the promotion she deserves.

All she has to do is go to the author’s Santa Barbara mansion and give him a quick pep talk or three. How hard could it be?

But Izzy quickly finds out she is in over her head. Beau Towers is not some celebrity lightweight writing a tell-all memoir. He is jaded and withdrawn and—it turns out—just as lost as Izzy. But despite his standoffishness, Izzy needs Beau to deliver, and with her encouragement, his story begins to spill onto the page. They soon discover they have more in common than either of them expected, and as their deadline nears, Izzy and Beau begin to realize there may be something there that wasn't there before.

Best-selling author Jasmine Guillory’s reimagining of a beloved fairy tale is a romantic triumph of love and acceptance and learning that sometimes to truly know a person you have to read between the lines.
I loved the first book in this series, Meant to Be by Julie Murphy, and was very excited to learn that Jasmine Guillory would be writing the next companion novel. This one is a Beauty and the Beast retelling and it sounds amazing.

I love how this series is modernizing the classic Disney tales in a fun and fresh way. I cannot wait to dive into this one next spring.

Expected release date - May 3, 2022

Monday, December 20, 2021

#PopCultureResolution - Better Watch Out

 


Better Watch Out

Director: Chris Peckover

Length:  89 minutes

Cast: Levi Miller, Olivia DeJonge, Ed Oxenbould

Release Date: October 6, 2017

Synopsis: Ashley travels to the suburban home of the Lerners to baby-sit their 12-year-old son Luke at Christmastime. She must soon defend herself and the young boy when unwelcome intruders announce their arrival.

***********************************************

My final #PopCultureResolution movie pick for 2021 was Better Watch Out. A holiday horror that delivers some surprises but decidedly not a lot of holiday cheer (which is probably not surprising).

This movie is a entirely ridiculous but entertaining. I enjoyed the setting and the set up. Everyone loves a good 'the call is coming from inside the house/babysitter' horror film and this takes that premise and plays with it.

The tone of the movie is definitely horror comedy with everything ramped up to the highest degree. If this tone doesn't resonate with you it will not be an enjoyable watching experience. It is more on the campy side of horror movies and it uses that in almost every element of the plot.

I appreciated the direction this story went in as it made for a more interesting plot but I did end up wishing the 'why' would have been different. It is something that has been done before and something that just did not sit right with me. 

Spoilers ahead....

The acting is pretty strong and actually what held the movie together for me. The acting made this movie more watchable. It is definitely an entertaining watch even if I had some things that didn't quite work for me.

This is a dark, but funny, horror flick that wasn't as scary as it was tense. It would be good for those who are counting down the days until Halloween and need their horror fix even during the holiday season.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every week. 

I haven't done one of these in a while since I have posted one of these so I am including some older things that have made me excited in the last few weeks.

MOVIES/TELEVISION

Baz Luhrmann's Elvis Biopic

Baz Lurhmann's next film is a biopic of Elvis Presley. Austin Butler has been cast as Elvis and we got our first look at the movie recently.
Austin Butler looks awesome in this brief clip. I cannot wait to see a proper trailer. This releases summer of 2022 so hopefully we'll get a trailer in the new year.

All Too Well - short film 

All Too Well is one of Taylor Swift's most popular songs. It's sort of reached mythical status with some of her fans. She recently released a short film for the song and it is INCREDIBLE. She first released this official poster:


The short film stars Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien. You can check out the video below. I've watched it quite a few times. It's fantastic and if you love the song it is a must watch. 


I definitely got myself a 'Fuck the Patriarchy' keychain from Taylor's official store when she released them the night this debuted.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - Giveaway

That's a wrap on my most anticipated reads of the upcoming year. I have featured some pretty amazing sounding books for all of us to get excited about for 2022. Here is a reminder of what books I talked about this year:

My hope is that after reading all about these books you'll want to read some of them yourself. I am going to finish off this event with a giveaway for one of the books featured in the event. The winner will win their choice of one of the books featured. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below and I'll be drawing the winner after the holidays.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - The Weight of Blood

The next (and last) book on this year's most anticipated list is another one that is inspired by a classic movie/classic novel. I haven't seen many books take inspiration from Stephen King's Carrie but I am excited that this one is.


Tiffany D Jackson's books are some of my favourites and her upcoming one, The Weight of Blood, is definitely on my most anticipated list.


There is not a fully Goodreads synopsis yet but there is a brief description from the deal announcement.
The Weight of Blood is a remix of Stephen King's Carrie set at a school's first integrated prom
How amazing does this sound?! This brief description is enough to catch my attention and I cannot wait to find out more about it!

1. The Carrie inspiration is an obvious reason I want to read this. I am very curious to see what Tiffany D Jackson does with this.

2. The potential for it to be a historical novel. The blub doesn't specify that it is, but it mentions the setting is a school's first integrated prom. This can have many different time frames (depending on when it was set) and I am excited to find out what time frame it is set in.

3. I have loved every other Tiffany D Jackson book that I have read and this one seems even more in my wheelhouse 


The Weight of Blood releases September 6, 2022. A spooky season release date for a spooky sounding book. It is already up for preorder at some retailers. 


You can find out more by following Tiffany's Twitter or visiting her website. You can also find out more about her books by visiting the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for one last post wrapping up my 2022 most anticipated list. Are you also a fan of Tiffany D Jackson's books? Let me know in the comments.

Friday, December 10, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - The Honeys

 


The next book on this year's most anticipated list was described as Heathers meets Midsommer and that was enough for me to add it to my list.


Ryan La Sala's The Honeys was naturally going to have a spot on this list from the moment I heard about it. 


The Goodreads synopsis is definitely intriguing and I love that there is a mystery set at this prestigious retreat. 
From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.

Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.

Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.

What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.

But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive. 
How amazing does this sound?! I am already looking forward to the setting of this one. I am excited to see what the Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy is like.

1. The murder mystery! It's set in the Catskills (if I recall correctly) and that seems like a fantastic place for a mystery.

2. The comparison to Heathers was enough to get me to read these. They may not have the same name but I am already both excited and terrified to meet The Honeys.

3. There is a hazy, almost dream like quality to the end of the synopsis with Mars memories faltering. I am excited to see if the tone of the book captures that promise. I want parts of this book to read like a fever dream.


The Honeys releases May 3, 2022. This means you can read it during the summer which is when this is set! It's perfect and will offer up a mystery read for the beach season.


You can find out more by following Ryan's Twitter or website

Be sure to stop by Monday for the next book on my 2022 most anticipated list. Are you also a fan of books that revolve around a mystery? Let me know in the comments.

Thursday, December 9, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - Six Ways To Write A Love Letter


The next book on this year's most anticipated list was compared to A Star Is Born and now that I have read the synopsis I also sense a bit of Taylor Swift inspiration as well.


I was obsessed with this book the second I read the deal announcement due to that A Star Is Born comparison. It's Six Ways to Write a Love Letter by Jackson Pearce.


This book has not been added to Goodreads yet, but I have found the synopsis via book retailer websites. 
Beloved author Jackson Pearce brings her trademark humor and emotion to a compelling and hopelessly romantic story about how impossible fame and love can be on their own, much less together.

Maybe everything they say about Vivi Swan is true.
Maybe America's Sweetheart is all fluff and no substance.
And maybe every guy she dates is fodder for her next breakup song.

But session drummer Remy Young doesn't care. Touring with Vivi Swan means more money than he and his brother could ever earn on their own. And he's smart enough to keep himself away from drama.

Then a bus mix-up forces Remy and Vivi to spend hours together, and he's surprised to discover that she's nothing like the rumors said. When she asks for his help writing her next song, he's immediately on board―for professional reasons, of course.

Soon, it's clear that every variation of their song is just a different way to write a love letter, even as Remy wonders if he's setting himself up to be the next guy on her list of exes. And when Vivi's private life and public façade finally clash, a celebrity gossip blog threatens everything they've created together...
I am even more excited to read this now after that synopsis. Vivi reminds me of Taylor Swift (as previously mentioned) with how she is described here.

1. You just need to see the above to know that it being compared to A Star Is Born definitely made me want to add it to my reading list. 

2. The song writing and the potential for us to get song lyrics. I love books that incorporate song lyrics and I cannot wait to see what awaits in that regard in this book.  I even hope we get some details about the songs Vivi wrote previously about all her ex lovers.

3. The fact that this is Jackson's Pearce's adult debut. I have enjoyed her young adult novels, but I am excited to read her adult romance debut! 


Six Ways to Write a Love Letter releases July 5, 2022. This make it one of the must reads of the summer. You can preorder now from your favourite retailer.


You can find out more about Jackson by following her on Twitter. You can also visit her website for more about her books.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next book on my 2022 most anticipated list. Are you also a fan of books that revolve around music? Let me know in the comments.

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - Only A Monster

This next book was pointed out to me by a friend who definitely thought this was one I would be obsessed with and she was right! This has romance, monsters, and probably a whole lot of angst. It also happens to be set in one of my favourite cities - London.


My next book's title Only A Monster by Vanessa Len. Look at this amazing cover?! 


The Goodreads synopsis makes this feel like it is going to hurt in the best possible way. I am OBSESSED with star crossed lovers and this definitely fits that description. 
With the sweeping romance of Passenger and the dark fantasy edge of This Savage Song, this standout YA contemporary fantasy debut from Vanessa Len, is the first in a planned trilogy.

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.

But she soon learns the truth. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero. 
I love the entire idea of a monster falling in love with a monster slayer. I also love the idea of a potential love triangle and that is definitely teased here.

Vanessa kindly took some time to answer a few questions. Her answers have made me even more excited about reading this book.

1 What gif do you feel best represents Only A Monster?


2 If someone were to make a signature drink in honour of your book, what might be included?

The monsters of ONLY A MONSTER can travel in time, and they enjoy historical flavours, so the book’s signature drink would be something old-fashioned like a spiced apple punch: cider or apple juice heated with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, nutmeg, orange slices – and fresh ginger, because my main character, Joan, loves ginger. 

3 There seems to be some potential for a forbidden romance (or two) in this book. What do you think makes them so alluring for readers? 

What a great question! As a reader, I really love stories where people from different backgrounds connect with empathy and understanding – especially when the connection seems unlikely. I always love it when characters turn out to have unexpected depths and facets. 

4 What is one song that made your playlist while writing this book? 
Battlefield by Jordin Sparks! 

5 What 2022 release are you most anticipating?

It’s so hard to list just a few, but I’m really looking forward to Ann Liang’s If You Could See the Sun, Deborah Falaye’s Blood Scion, Akshaya Raman’s The Ivory Key, Judy Lin’s A Magic Steeped in Poison, Axie Oh’s The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Sue Lynn Tan’s Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kristin Dwyer’s Some Mistakes Were Made, Erik J Brown’s All that’s Left in the World – and really all of the 2022 debuts! I recently read advance copies of Leslie Vedder’s The Bone Spindle and Lillie Lainoff’s One for All, and really loved them

6 If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Only A Monster. 

When Joan was six, she decided she was going to be Superman when she grew up.


That Buffy and Angel gif! It gutted me as much as it did the first time. It's one of the most heartbreaking television scenes ever and if it is an indication of the heartbreak to come in this book I am not prepared. I also love that our main character isn't the hero. I am here for complex characters and storylines. 

Only A Monster releases February 22, 2022. It times perfectly for you to use those holiday gift cards to gift yourself a copy after the holidays.

You can find out more about Vanessa and her books by following her on Twitter.  You can also visit her website. You can find out more about her books on the publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next book on my most anticipated list. Do you love angst filled romances as much as I do? Let me know in the comments.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - The Hurricane Blonde

 

The next book on my 2022 most anticipated list is a murder mystery set against the backdrop of sunny, glitzy Los Angeles. 


It is no secret that I love movies and Hollywood. This combines that love with true crime so this immediately jumped to the top of my must read list.


There is no synopsis available on Goodreads yet, but I do have the deal announcement that first brought this book to my attention. 


Here are my top three reasons that I am excited to get my hands on this one:

1. This has TWO mysteries going on. One that is in the present and one in the past. I expect that they'll have more in common than just the location.

2. The true crime tour inclusion makes this Murderino very excited. I cannot wait to see what the tour is like. I hope we get some details before the mystery takes over.

3. The Hollywood connections! The main character is a former child star. Her sister was an actress  who was murdered. The newest victim is described as a starlet. This is going to presumably look at the dark underside of Hollywood and I am here for it.


The Hurricane Blonde doesn't have a scheduled release date yet - but it most likely is going to be released in fall of 2022. This also means that it is not up for preorder just yet. You can, of course, add it to your Goodreads in the meantime so you can be updated with new information when it is available. I cannot wait to see the cover for this!

You can find out more about Halley by following her on Twitter. You can also visit her publisher's website for more details about her books.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for the next book on my 2022 most anticipated list. Are you also a fan of mysteries and books set in Los Angeles? Let me know in the comments.

Monday, December 6, 2021

2022 Most Anticipated - Love in the Time of Serial Killers

The next book on my 2022 most anticipated list blends my love of romance with true crime. A woman who is obsessed with true crime thinks her neighbour might be either a serial killer or a genuinely nice guy. Sounds both like a fun comedy and a look at modern dating though the lens of everyone watching all these true crime documentaries that Netflix keeps releasing.


My next book's title is Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson. It basically sounds like it was written specifically for me and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.


The Goodreads synopsis gives you a very good idea of what it is going to be about and what the book might be like.
Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn't exactly conducive to modern dating-and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she's used to suspecting the worst. PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She's even analyzing the genre in her dissertation-if she can manage to finish writing it. It's hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn't had a relationship with for years. It doesn't help that she's low-key convinced her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he's clearly up to something). But it's not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier-a genuinely nice guy who can pierce through her armor to her vulnerable heart underneath
I am very excited to see the cover of this one! I hope it captures both the romance elements and the fact that the main character is obsessed with true crime. 

Alicia kindly took some time to answer a few questions for me about the book and what she is excited about reading in 2022. 

t gif do you feel best represents Love in the Time of Serial Killers?


2 If someone were to make a signature drink in honour of your book, what might be included?

Full disclosure that a literal infant knows as much about making cocktails as I do, but since Phoebe makes a Nutella no-bake pie in the book, I'm going to go with a Nutella mudslide because it sounds pretty tasty. 

3 This seems to blend my love of romance novels with my fascination with true crime. What are some of your favourite true crime podcasts (if you listen to them)? 

I actually don't listen to as many as you might think, given the title of this book! But I did really enjoy the In the Dark series about the Curtis Flowers case. Really in-depth and well-reported and showed the injustice that was done there. My favorite podcast of all time is You're Wrong About, which covers some true crime, among other cultural topics we got "wrong" the first time around. The Kitty Genovese episode is one of the best examples of podcasting out there, in my book. 

4 What is one song that made your playlist while writing this book? 

Hayley Williams helpfully put out a solo album just for me right before I wrote this, and three songs -- "Creepin'," "Sudden Desire," and "Pure Love" -- could basically be the three-act structure for Love in the Time of Serial Killers. 

5 What 2022 release are you most anticipating? 

So many. So, so many! But right now in this exact temporal moment I'm going to go with The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas. Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca? THAT COVER? Sign me up! 

6 If not too spoilery, can you share the first line of Love in the Time of Serial Killers?

"Obviously a two-hundred pound Victorian writing desk wasn't made to be moved all by yourself."


Love in the Time of Serial Killers releases August 1, 2022. It's a perfect date for a beach read and I expect this will be in a lot of beach tote bags this summer.

You can find out more about Alicia and her books by following her on Twitter.  You can also visit her publisher website.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to for the next book on my 2022 most anticipated list. Are you also obsessed with true crime? Do you love reading romance books? Let me know in the comments.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Monthly TBR and Wrap Up

It's the final month of the year. 2021 has flown by and hasn't exactly been the reading year I hoped for. I am off a lot this December and I have a LOT of reading to get done. I am hoping to read way more compared to my usual monthly total as I need to finish off my Goodreads challenge.

Before I talk about what I hope to read in December, I have to recap November first.

The books that were on my list are:

Gilded Cage by Camilla Lackberg (goodreads)
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (goodreads)

Plus I had some ebooks on my list:

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard (goodreads)
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (goodreads)
Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston (goodreads)
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (goodreads)

Here is what I managed to read in November:

Hawkeye: Volume 1 by Matt Fraction and David Aja (goodreads)
Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy (goodreads)
Gilded Cage by Camilla Lackberg (goodreads)
The Guest List by Lucy Foley (goodreads)

I managed to read four books this month which is not as many as I hoped. One of my 2022 goals is going to be to dedicate more time to reading. 

My #PopCultureResolution book for November was The Guest List by Lucy Foley which I managed to read and the review will go up once the 2022 Most Anticipated event I am currently hosting wraps up. The movie was Rope and that has already been reviewed.

Here is what I hope to read in December:

I only have some ebooks I am hoping to get to this month, so no photo of physical books to share.



Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier (goodreads)
If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (goodreads)
Bad Girls Never Say Die by Jennifer Mathieu (goodreads)
Here's To Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli (goodreads)
We Wish You a Merry Grantmas by Morgan Matson (goodreads)
Fan Club by Erin Meyer (goodreads)

My #PopCultureResolution picks for this month are Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier and Better Watch Out. I am excited to tackle both as they are holiday themed but not your typical holiday fare.

Next up is an update on my two reading challenges:

November's pick for my '12 friends, 12 books' reading challenge is Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney. I am VERY behind so I am not even sure if I'll be able to finish this before the end of the year. I am going to try to get to as many as I can, but I may have to finish next year.

Jan - The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Kelly)

Feb - 
The Birthday List by Deveny Perry (Emilie)

Mar - Mouthful of Forevers by Clementine Von Radics (Ciara)

April - Marriage for One by Ella Maise (Katie)

May - Written In The Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (Christy)

June -  The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M Danforth (Christa)

July - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Jess)

August -  The Grace Year by Kim Leggitt (Christa)

Sept - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Meaghan)

Oct -   Among the Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston (Katrina)

Nov - Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott (Kim)

Dec - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney (Julia)

As for the reading challenge inspired by The Bachelor I am officially saying that I will not finish it this year, but I hope to get to the rest of these early in the new year.

1. Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
2. If The Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
3. Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
4. Further to Fall by Catherine Cowles
5. One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
6. Isn't it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams
7. My Favorite Souvenir by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland
8. Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
9. Marriage for One by Ella Maise
10. Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks by Nathan Burgoine
11. Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
12. Open Book by Jessica Simpson
13. Isn't it Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

What books are you reading this month? Have you read any of the ones on my list? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments.

 

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